Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 2, 1875

Overview

They woke to another bleak day of negotiations, with R. forced once again to confront Fürstner’s demands and the possibility of cutting the new scene from "Tannhäuser." Rehearsals for "Lohengrin" only deepened the gloom, though the evening brought a little company in the form of the Standhartner friends and a quartet soirée. A mocking gift, an old baton labeled as all their means allowed, was taken as a cruel jab at R.’s public speech.

Content

Thursday, December 2:

Arose late in despondent mood. R. has to write yet again to Herr Fürstner, who is not budging from his demands, and R. will probably have to withdraw the new scene in Tannhäuser. On top of that, very dismal impressions from the Lohengrin rehearsals. A quartet soirée at Hellmesberger’s. In the evening our Standhartner friends.

This morning some anonymous people sent us an old, inferior baton with the inscription “as far as our means allow” - a mocking reference to R.’s speech to the audience!